Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Wildflower Wednesday

I will soon have to retire Wildflower Wednesday for this year.  Our days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder.  But I could not leave you without showing some Asters.  These plants, for me, say, 'Fall'.
There are thousands of species and they are very difficult to tell apart, even for an experienced botanist.  I will not even try to figure out which Asters I have taken photos of.
 
 
 
This is a pretty purple variety.  The flowers are fairly large and it forms dark purple clumps throughout our area, in parks and roadsides.  This plant has inspired several fall-coloured quilts.  I just love it.

Aster means 'star' in Greek.  The flowers truly are like little stars.  This one is a light mauve one.  The flowers are much smaller, but they brighten up many a waste area.


Asters are found the world over, except for Antarctica.  They are mainly grown for their beauty.  I could not find many other uses for this plant.  This white one is very pretty.  It grows upright.  The white is brilliant amongst the yellowing of other plants.

 

Sorry Folks.  This has to be a short post.  My computer, and especially my photo files, are giving me problems.  

4 comments:

em's scrapbag said...

Asters are a pretty little flower. I really like them and included them in my garden quilt. I just showed how to make them in method to my madness series.

Wacky Woman said...

Enjoy your garden while you can Hetty! Soon it will be cold.

Anonymous said...

I have whole bundles of these purple fall asters in my garden.
Together with my Jerusalem artichokes they have taken over the garden and are a paradise for the many bees they attract.
So there is a purpose.
We need the bees.
Beauty and the bees!
Makke.

Mary K said...

I will miss wildflower Wednesday. But I can wait until spring for you to start it up again.